Update: Pedestrian hit, injured at 35th and Morgan

5:06 PM: Thanks to Adam and Courtney for the tips on a car/pedestrian crash at 35th/Morgan about half an hour ago. We got there fairly quickly, but the scene was already cleared – Adam says the northbound lanes were blocked at one point – and the police cars in our photo were the only evidence left. Police confirm one person was hit by a car and injured. The victim was taken to a hospital by private ambulance, indicating the injuries weren’t major, but that’s all we know at this point – they were still talking to people to try to figure out what happened; we’ll check back later. 5:40 PM: A few more details from Bill, who says word is that the car was headed westbound on Morgan, turning onto southbound 35th, when the pedestrian was hit.

ADDED EARLY THURSDAY: According to Lt. Alan Williams from the Southwest Precinct, the driver, a 63-year-old man, was cited for “right of way at a crosswalk.” The person he hit is a 38-year-old woman who suffered “non-life-threatening injuries.”

laura May 18, 2011 (5:28 pm)

I witnessed the hit, and it looked pretty bad. I was driving westbound on Morgan and the car in front of me was turning left onto 35th. He hit the woman as she was crossing 35th from west to east and I heard her shriek as he hit her. I really just hope that she is ok. Luckily an ambulance was waiting in traffic on Morgan, so they were there about 1 min or so after the crash happened and were tending to her quickly.

R26 May 18, 2011 (5:48 pm)

I live 2 blocks from this intersection – this could be the news any day. Literally once a day I see a near miss here.

R26 May 18, 2011 (5:48 pm)

I live 2 blocks from this intersection – this could be the news any day. Literally once a day I see a near miss here. I wish there would be an “all walk” signal and/or dedicated turn lights.

Carrie Ann May 18, 2011 (5:51 pm)

It wasn’t an adorable pregnant lady, was it? My friend lives a block or two from that intersection. :\ I hope both pedestrian and driver are O.K.

Westsider May 18, 2011 (7:04 pm)

ROAD DIET, ROAD DIET, ROAD DIET! Lets reduce these morbid outcomes and make 35th safer!

35this35mph May 18, 2011 (7:07 pm)

Godspeed to the victim and “ROAD DIET!”

clark5080 May 18, 2011 (8:20 pm)

Road dieters did you ever think that the driver of the car might not be at fault here

brn2bm May 18, 2011 (8:30 pm)

If the driver of the car was turning left, it sure wasn’t the pedestrian’s fault. Read the first post by laura.

JC May 18, 2011 (11:03 pm)

If a car turns left into a pedestrian crossing in a crosswalk, then the driver is very likely at fault, clark.

WSB May 19, 2011 (2:12 am)

For those checking back on this Thursday morning – just got citation info from police, adding to the story – TR

Jenn May 18, 2011 (11:18 pm)

Kudos to those who reported the incident to the WS Blog. Everyone, please keep raising awareness on road safety issues in West Seattle. Hopefully the City will pay more attention to our community and make our streets safer to use by foot, bike and car.

Bligs Mander May 19, 2011 (6:46 am)

Oh no. Not more road diet morons. Please go away. Worst idea ever.

njw May 19, 2011 (8:33 am)

I want to be very clear that I am not blaming the victim here and that pedestrians ALWAYS have the right of way, BUT that intersection is notorious for flagrant j-walkers. Not two hours after this incident I had two young ladies saunter in front of me, leisurely crossing against the light about 20 yards outside of the crosswalk. This area could use a little pedestrian enforcement is my point.

MW May 19, 2011 (8:37 am)

It’s a good thing that SPD crackdown on speeders only lasted 4 days since the last death on I-35. We’d never get to work if we couldn’t drive 50mph. Thanks SPD!!

Yardvark May 19, 2011 (9:04 am)

I’ve seen so many close calls at that intersection in exactly this scenario. The left turning car is always too distracted by the double lane effect on Morgan to pay attention to a pedestrian crossing 35th. It’s a horribly designed interesection with a ton of jockeying taking place directly within the intersection itself.
As it is, there usually ends up being two undefined lanes of traffic as cars on Morgan approach the intersection from both sides. Since a lot of cars want to turn left onto 35th in both directions, it ends up being confusing for everyone. A road diet with a dedicated center turn lane and dedicated turn light on Morgan is actually the answer to this one.

luckymom30 May 19, 2011 (9:40 am)

Sorry to hear that it happened again!

Westie May 19, 2011 (12:13 pm)

I hope the lady is ok.
Yardvark, I agree. There needs to be a turn lane on both east and west side of Morgan.
Njw, I totally agree. I’ve had numerous occasions of j-walkers (today) leisurely walking across the street where there are tons of cars. There should be a cop parked at that gas station ticketing for j-walkering and giving warnings to educate teens. It’s dangerous and down right rude to saunter in the middle of the road. There are crosswalks at busy intersections for a reason. People need to use them. (FYI, my comments are not directed at the victim or this incident. They are directed at j-walkers)

Tracy White May 19, 2011 (12:46 pm)

Since he was turning ON to 35th I don’t think a road diet would help. What’s needed is better control of the cross street… same thing happens on the 35th & Barton intersection. Better segregation of traffic and turn signals would make people less desperate to get through the intersection.

meinws May 19, 2011 (1:04 pm)

I agree with you, Tracy White. There have been numerous occasions where my fiancé or I are crossing at 35th and Barton, sometimes with our pooch, and we have had to jump out of the way of a driver that was only paying attention to the cars and break in traffic and NOT AT ALL to the crosswalk. There was one specific occasion where if my fiancé hadn’t been paying attention – we would be poochless!!

People just need to focus on driving and ALL the rules that apply. I have a difficult time feeling bad for a pedestrian that gets hit that isn’t using the crosswalk – and nothing but contempt for the driver that hits pedestrians IN the crosswalk.

juniebug May 19, 2011 (2:43 pm)

I drove up seconds after this accident happened yesterday. I hope the woman recovers…she was not moving when I drove around. I live a few blocks away and drive past this intersection daily. Maybe they need to put an “all-walk” type of light with turn arrows here like in the Junction. There are always many pedestrians coming from several directions, plus a lineup of cars trying to turn left to 35th in both directions (often on the yellow light because that’s the only opportunity). There’s also a bus stop in front of Walgreen’s where people are rushing to catch the bus. I could see how a pedestrian trying to making the crossing and a car trying to make the light could collide. Yes, it would be the driver’s fault of course. I have also seen many jaywalkers in this area, many cars making an illegal left turn over double-yellow lines into Walgreen’s and several car accidents there over the past year…a Pizza Hut delivery car was hit just a couple of weeks ago.

I. Ponder May 19, 2011 (4:07 pm)

It’s not jaywalking when a pedestrian crosses at a corner without a crosswalk or pedestrian signal. Pedestrian has the right of way. If the driver had a stop sign or a red light, it’s a significant violation. No one wants to be run over, but many drivers assume the world is theirs and everyone should just get out of their way.

I. Ponder May 19, 2011 (4:12 pm)

The Vulnerable User Bill was just signed into law. It becomes effective 7/1/12. Cascade Bicycle Club’s former Advocacy Director David Hiller did much of the heavy-lifting to get this passed.

On average, 165 bicyclists and pedestrians a year are either killed or suffer disabling injuries due to negligent drivers in Washington. Last year alone, 62 people were killed in the state due to distracted drivers.

Senate Bill 5326, which will strengthen penalties for negligent driving, was signed into law Monday afternoon.

“A small fine is not a stiff enough penalty for killing or seriously injuring someone due to negligent driving,” said Sen. Adam Kline (D-Seattle), the bill’s prime sponsor. “This bill puts reasonable expectations on motorists to pay attention to bicyclists and other non-automobile users of the roadway, and will help provide some sense of justice to families who have lost loved ones.”

This bill creates a new traffic infraction. A driver operating a vehicle is found to be driving negligently in the second degree with a vulnerable user victim if the driver causes the death, great bodily harm or substantial bodily harm to a pedestrian, bicyclist, motorcyclist, wheelchair user or any other vulnerable user of a public way.

Currently, the maximum penalty for this violation is a fine of $250. SB 5326 will increase the penalty to a fine ranging from $1,000-5,000 and a 90 day suspension of the driver’s license. However, a person who requests and appears for a hearing may request to instead pay a penalty of $250; attend traffic school for a number of days to be determined by the court; perform up to 100 hours of community service related to driver improvement and traffic safety, as determined by the court; and submit certification to the court that the requirements have been completed.

http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/summary.aspx?bill=5326&year=2011

35this35mph May 19, 2011 (7:00 pm)

Sorry Juniebug, It may be inconvenient to wait for a left-turner into Walgreens (or anywhere else) but it is NOT illegal for them to cross the yellow line…

Sorry, comment time is over.